Lagos and Anambra State, along with top experts in technology and infrastructure development, recently gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, for the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa Conference. The event focused on creating regulatory frameworks to advance digital infrastructure across Africa.
Key speakers included Olatubosun Alake, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, and Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency.
Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata highlighted Anambra State’s success in digital infrastructure development, particularly through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). He credited Governor Charles Soludo’s policy of waiving Right of Way (RoW) charges for attracting investors and facilitating business operations in the state.
Agbata emphasized that partnerships with local businesses have expanded digital access across government institutions, boosting economic growth and providing internet connectivity to the civil service for the first time.
Olatubosun Alake spoke about the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration with the private sector. He encouraged companies to establish clear codes of conduct for smoother interactions with government bodies and stressed that competitive compensation for civil servants is essential for delivering high-quality public services.
Other notable participants included Dr. Ayotunde Coker, Chairman of the Africa Data Centres Association; Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria; and Douglas Njenga, Director of Regulatory Affairs at WIOCC Group. Sade Dada, Meta’s Public Policy Manager for Anglophone West Africa, moderated the discussions.
The conference explored the role of regulatory frameworks, partnerships, and reforms in driving digital infrastructure development across Nigeria and the African continent.